Sam Raimi Comes Onboard “Rake” Remake

Filmmaker Sam Raimi has come onboard to direct the pilot episode of the U.S. remake of the comedic Australian legal series “Rake” at Fox.

Richard Roxburgh starred in the original which follows the self-destructive, tactless Sydney criminal defense lawyer Cleaver Greene who defended some seemingly hopeless cases including a cannibal, a bigamist, a dog f–ker, an emasculator, a racist shock jock, an Assange-esque online reporter, and the wife of an incompetent suicide bomber.

Clients, judges and city officials have been played by high-profile guest stars with the likes of Hugo Weaving, Toni Collette, Sam Neill, Rachel Griffiths, Martin Henderson, Noah Taylor, Jacqueline McKenzie and Jack Thompson all appearing in colourful roles.

The American version has Greg Kinnear stepping into the role of Greene, while Miranda Otto, Necar Zadegan, John Ortiz, David Harbour and Ian Colletti also star. Roxburgh, Ian Collie, show creator Peter Duncan, and “Rescue Me” showrunner Peter Tolan will executive produce.